Pyracantha plant named &#39;cadvar&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct white-flowered  Pyracantha  plant is provided that is a spontaneous whole plant mutation of the ‘Cadrou’ cultivar (non-patented in the United States). The new cultivar readily forms white flowers and red berries and can be readily distinguished from the ‘Cadrou’ cultivar by presence of attractive variegated leaves. A broad-bushy to flat-bushy growth habit with robustness and abundant branching commonly is displayed. Good resistance to scab and fire blight is provided to the grower. During observations to date less fructification than the ‘Cadrou’ cultivar has been noted.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Pyracantha hybrida/Pyracantha Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. ‘Cadvar’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A new and distinct cultivar of the Pyracantha plant is provided that isa spontaneous whole plant mutation of unknown causation of the ‘Cadrou’cultivar (non-patented in the United States). The new cultivar wasdiscovered during 1997 in cultivated area while growing among plants ofthe ‘Cadrou’ cultivar at Devon, United Kingdom. Had the new cultivar ofthe present invention not been discovered and carefully preserved, itwould have been lost to mankind.

The new cultivar was selected and preserved primarily because of thedistinctive atypical appearance of the foliage.

It was found that the new cultivar of the present invention possessesthe following combination of characteristics:

(a) forms attractive variegated foliage unlike the ‘Cadrou’ cultivar,

(b) forms white flowers and red berries commonly with less abundantfructification than the ‘Cadrou’ cultivar,

(c) displays good resistance to scab and fire blight, and

(d) commonly exhibits a broad-bushy to flat-bushy growth habit withrobustness and abundant branching.

The new cultivar of the present invention well meets the needs of thehorticultural industry and is particularly well suited for growing asattractive ornamentation in the landscape.

The new cultivar can be readily distinguished from the ‘Cadrou’ cultivarin view of the variegated foliage. Also, during observations to date thefructification of the new cultivar has been considerably less than thatof the ‘Cadrou’ cultivar.

The new cultivar has been found to readily undergo asexual propagationby the use of cuttings. Roots readily are produced from such cuttingsduring the summer. Such asexual propagation has been carried out atDevon, United Kingdom, and at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A., and has shownthat the new cultivar reproduces true to type in subsequent generations.

The new cultivar has been named the ‘Cadvar’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show four year-old plants of the newcultivar while growing during the summer at La Ménitré, France. Suchplants had been asexually reproduced by the rooting of cuttings.

FIG. 1 shows a close view of the attractive variegated foliage. Suchvariegation is absent in the foliage of the ‘Cadrou’ parental cultivar.

FIG. 2 illustrates the typical growth habit and abundant branching ofthe new cultivar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is based on the observation of three year-oldplants of the new cultivar while growing outdoors at West Grove, Pa.,U.S.A. The blooms were observed on Jun. 19, 2003. Other characteristicswere observed on Jun. 12, 2003. The plants had been asexually reproducedby the rooting of cuttings. Color designations are with reference to theR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society London, England.When employed common color terms are to be accorded their customarydictionary significance.

-   Origin: a spontaneous mutation of unknown causation of the ‘Cadrou’    cultivar (non-patented in the United States).-   Plant:    -   -   Habit.—young plants commonly are broad-bushy to flat-bushy.            However, when tied to a stake the plant will assume an            upright growth habit.        -   Size.—commonly rounded, and approximately 80 cm in height            and diameter with the size being influenced by the climatic            conditions that are experienced.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—young stems: When exposed to the sun, the tip of            current season growth commonly is from near Greyed-Purple            Group 183A to near Greyed-Orange Group 176B and 176C. At the            base where shaded, the presence of purple pigment diminishes            and approaches Greyed-Orange Group 176B and 176C to            predominantly Yellow-Green Group 146C and 147C in the            direction of the tip. The most mature portions of the            current season stems are near Greyed-Purple Group 187A when            exposed to the sun and near Yellow-Green Group 146C when            shaded. — adult stems: predominantly Greyed-Green Group 197A            and 197B commonly with some Greyed-Green Group 191A.        -   Texture.—densely covered with fine silvery pubescence.        -   Size.—approximately 14.5 cm in length on average, and            approximately 3 mm in diameter on average.        -   Internode length.—approximately 6 mm on average.-   Thorns:    -   -   General appearance.—numerous, sharply pointed, approximately            1.5 to 2.5 cm in length, approximately 1 to 2 mm in width at            the base, and near Brown Group 200B in coloration.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf general appearance.—nicely variegated with slight            glossiness.        -   Leaf length.—commonly approximately 12 to 41.25 mm.        -   Leaf width.—commonly approximately 4 to 12.75 mm.        -   Leaf bearing.—alternate and simple.        -   Leaf shape.—variable, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate to            obovate, occasionally spatulate, and rarely laceolate.        -   Leaf base.—attenuate to narrowly cuneate.        -   Leaf apex.—broadly acute to obtuse.        -   Leaf margin.—closely crenulate serrulate.        -   Leaf texture.—glabrescens, and becoming glabrous with a few            scattered hairs commonly remaining on mature leaves.        -   Leaf color.—new foliage: — upper surface: at the center in            admixture near Green Group 138A, 138B, and 138C, and at the            margin in an irregular pattern near Yellow-Green Group 145B            and near Yellow Group 4C. — under surface: at the center            near Greyed-Green Group 191B, and at the margin in an            irregular pattern near Yellow-Green Group 145C and near            Yellow Group 4C. — mature foliage: — upper surface: at the            center in admixture near Green Group 137C and 138A and small            amounts of near Green Group 139D, and at the margin in an            irregular pattern near Yellow-Green Group 145A, 145B, 145C,            and 154D. — under surface: at the center near Greyed-Green            Group 191B, and at the margin in an irregular pattern near            Yellow-Green Group 145C.        -   Stipules.—very small, commonly present in pairs, and            commonly approximately 1 to 1.5 mm in length. The minute            size precludes further characterization when viewed in the            absence of magnification.        -   Petioles.—commonly approximately 2.5 to 4.5 mm in length,            approximately 0.4 to 0.6 mm in width, with a wide groove on            the upper surface, commonly possess a few scattered hairs on            the upper surface, substantially glabrous on the under            surface, and Yellow-Green Group 145A in coloration on the            upper surface, and Yellow-Green Group 145B on the under            surface.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number.—approximately 1000 flowers per plant during the time            of blooming and considerably less than the ‘Cadrou’ cultivar            during observations to date.        -   Time of blooming.— commonly mid- to late-spring.        -   Duration of blooming.—commonly approximately 10 to 14 days            on average.        -   Buds.—globose, approximately 3 mm in length, approximately 2            mm in diameter at the widest point, and near Yellow-Green            Group 145D in coloration.        -   Size.—a fully open inflorescence commonly measures            approximately 10 to 11 mm in diameter on average, and            approximately 3 mm in depth on average.        -   Configuration.—flattened when fully open.        -   Petal number.—five.        -   Petal arrangement.—radial.        -   Overall petal shape.—rounded.        -   Petal apex.—obtuse.        -   Petal base.—obtuse.        -   Petal margin.—entire.        -   Petal length.—commonly approximately 3.7 mm on average.        -   Petal width.—commonly approximately 4.5 mm on average.        -   Color.—near White Group 155D on both surfaces.        -   Fragrance.—lightly musty.        -   Lastingness of an inflorescence.—approximately 4 to 7 days            on the plant depending upon the environmental conditions.        -   Sepals.—six in number, minute and too small to measure, and            near Yellow-Green Group 145D in coloration on both surfaces.        -   Stamens.—approximately 10 on average and attached to the            petals.        -   Pollen.—present in a moderate quantity.        -   Anthers.—near White Group 155D in coloration.        -   Filaments.—near White Group 155D in coloration.        -   Pistils.—four per inflorescence on average.        -   Berries.—Rarely formed, flattened in configuration when            rarely present and near Red Group 46B. The fructification is            considerably less than that of the ‘Cadrou’ parental            cultivar during observations to date.

The disease resistance of the new cultivar is believed to be comparableto that of the ‘Cadrou’ parental cultivar. Good resistance to scab[Spilocaea pyracanthae (Otth.) Rostrup] and fire blight [Erwiniaamylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al.] has been observed.

Plants of the ‘Cadvar’ cultivar have well withstood a temperature as lowas 3° F. during observations to date. Accordingly, considerablehardiness can be attributed to the new cultivar.

Plants of the new ‘Cadvar’ cultivar have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

1. A new and distinct Pyracantha plant that is a spontaneous whole plantmutation of the ‘Cadrou’ cultivar having the following combination ofcharacteristics: (a) forms attractive variegated foliage unlike the‘Cadrou cultivar, (b) forms white flowers and red berries commonly withless fructification than the ‘Cadrou’ cultivar, (c) displays goodresistance to scab and fire blight, and (d) commonly exhibits abroad-bushy to flat-bushy growth habit with robustness and abundantbranching; substantially as illustrated and described.